SB QST @ ARL $ARLB029
ARLB029 Enforcement said dismal
 
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ARRL Bulletin 29  ARLB029
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 28, 1995
To all radio amateurs 
 
SB QST ARL ARLB029
ARLB029 Enforcement said dismal
 
Enforcement said ''dismal''
 
The ARRL has told the FCC that its recent track record in Amateur
Service rules enforcement has been ''dismal.''
 
In comments on an FCC proposal to adopt a standardized schedule of
monetary forfeitures (fines) for rules violations in all services,
the League said that while there have been only a few cases in the
Amateur Service where prompt enforcement action was needed ''badly
and quickly,'' the necessary action did not take place ''despite
repeated (FCC) promises.''
 
The ARRL said that the Commission has probably arrived at a
reasonable forfeiture schedule but that administration of the
schedule is ''the more pressing matter.''  The League said that at
issue were whether the fines were sufficient to (1) cause recipients
to not violate a particular rule in the future, and (2) deter others
from violating the same rule.
 
The ARRL said that the forfeiture proceeding (in CI Docket 95-6)
should be far broader, to include a review of the overall
effectiveness of monetary forfeitures as an enforcement tool, given
that as presently used such forfeitures are often either ignored or
contested.
 
The League said that in the few cases of amateur rules violations in
recent years, FCC promises of action have gone unkept and the
problems persist visibly.  The ARRL suggested that forfeiture
amounts for amateur rules violations be adhered to (instead of
greatly reduced) and that collection efforts be carried through.
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